Case opener



Dec. 15, 1964 J. H. WALTER ETAL CASE OPENER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 26, 1962 INVENTORS Ja5 h H. wd/ter y fuyene l: C/auZ/er .fl/% ATTORNEY.

1366- 1964. J. H. WALTER ETAL CASE OPENER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1962 INVENTORS Joseph H- (l/a/ter fuyene E C/uutier ATTORNEY.

Dec. 15, 1964 J. H. WALTER ETAL CASE OPENER 3 3.. t 0 e 3 e 5 .0 x m e 2 w 6 fl Is 0 g p w WM a 9 a Ill/l F Fl E- E1 00 Filed Oct. 26, 1962 INVENTORS Jose h H Walter 576 E Clout/er ATTORNEY.

Dec. 15, 1964 J. H. WALTER ETAL 3,161,113

CASE OPENER Filed Oct. 26, 1962 GSheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TORS.

Jos?/7 H ll/o/tqr BY [by 08 F C/oulfler ATTORNEY.

Dec. 15, 1964 J. H. WALTER ETAL CASE OPENER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001;. 26, 1962 F1 E E FlE- E INVENTORS ,0/7 H Walter fuyene E Caut/er W ,0

Jose

a ATTORNEY.

Dec. 15, 1964 J. H. WALTER ETAL 3,151,113

CASE OPENER Filed Oct. 26, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TORS Josqob H. (l/a/ter BY [aye/7e E C/auZ/er United States Patent 3,161,113 CASE OPENER .loseplt H. Walter, Haddam, tlomn, and Eugene F.

tlioutier, Sinking Spring, Pin, assigns-rs to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pm, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 233,291 13 (Claims. (Cl. 93--53) The instant invention relates to improvements in case openers, namely, machines adapted to erect or open a case or carton from a folded or flattened blank.

Cases or cartons made of corrugated paperboard the like f the typeto receive cans, bottles and other con: tainers or products are conventionally supplied to the user in collapsed or flattened condition with the bottom, top and side wall panels connected by fol-d lines. in the co lap-ed condition a top and side wall panel overlie side and bottom wall panels and closure flaps protect from both ends of each panel to lie in the plane thereof. As will be recognized such collapsed cases can be conveniently stored with the occupancy of a minimum of space. At the time the case is to be used the collapsed blank is fed to an apparatus which opens or erects it and causes at least one of the side wall end flaps, at that end of the case 7 opposite to the end through which the contents are to be inserted, to be swung inwardly to maintain the open condition of the case. The case is then loaded and thereafter certain of the end flaps have adhesive applied thereto and thereafter the end flaps are closed and sealed. The apparatus performing the opening, loading, closing and sealing functions may form integral parts of one machine or one or more may be individual devices;

The instant invention is particularly directed to an improved case opener portion of such apparatus preferably including a case loading station as an integral part thereof. A machine of this general type as heretofore constructed is illustrated in patent to Ferguson et al. 2,756,856, issued June 19, 1956. As will be noted from the Ferguson patent in the case opening operation the collapsed cases are conveyed longitudinally of th machinewith their end flaps projecting laterally. initial step in the opening operation the extending end flaps are manipulated to depress the bottom wall end flaps from the plane of the case to prevent their interference in later stages of the opening or erecting operation as well as to permit the entry between overlying and underlying flaps of manipulating elements. Thereafter the case is brought into contact with means which swings the side wall panels upwardly on their fold lines with the bottom wall to erect the case to a fully opened condition. The mechanisms performing the above described functions and others involved in the opening operation are, in the machine of the prior patent, mechanically operated in timed sequence from the machine drive necessitating relatively complicated andcumbersome drive mechanism. A principal object of the instant invention is the provision of an improved case opener eliminating much of the mechanism heretofore required, the opening operations being performed for the most part by means which function automatically through contact with the case as it is conveyed through the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a case opener including means for supporting collapsed cases for forward travel with their end flaps projecting laterally from the supporting means, said opener having first freely rockable cam means in the paths of said flaps adapted to depress overlying top wall and underlying leading side wall and bottom flaps from the plane of the cases, means carried by the camming means for cooperation with the depressed flaps to rock the camming means out of the paths of the trailing side wall flaps upon further As an advancing movement of the case, and second freely rockable camming means in the paths of said advancing flaps for returning said depressed top wall flaps and underlying leading side wall flaps to the plane of said case while said first camming means retains the bottom wall flaps in their depressed position, and means for opening the case while said bottom wall ilaps are so depressed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a case opener as defined above wherein said case opening means comprises means for initially partially elevating the top wall in relation to the bottom wall and there is a recly :swingably mounted means in position to contact the leading edge of the case to continue the elevation of said wall to erect or open said case upon further forward movement thereof. A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus atttaining the foregoing objects wherein said swingable means becomes automaticaliy disengaged from said case upon completion of the opening thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a case opener including means forming a portion of said swingable means for automatically partially rotating a side Wall end its. at that end of the case opposite to that through which the load is to be inserted, into position to maintain the case in erected form during the opening operations. A further ooject of the invention is th provi sion of means to further rotate said flap and to rotate a second flap at said end of the case to bring such flaps into substantial right angular relationship to the side walls to which they are attached.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of improved means for conveying a case through the several stations at which the above described operations are performed. 7

The invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent when reference is made to the more detailed description to follow and to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of a case opening apparatus in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view partially in section and on an enlarged scale of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 3-3 of PEG. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 4l-4 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGS. 6 to 12 inclusive are schematic views illustrating various stages in the operation of the case opening means of the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, a machine according to the instant invention includes case opening and case loading stations, the invention however being irected primarily to the former which will be specifically described. As shown in the drawings the machine comprises a frame lti supporting a pair of rails Iii (FlGS. 2, 3 and 4) extending longitudinally of the machine for the length thereof. The rails are spaced apart to underlie the end margins of the main panels of collapsed cases 12 supplied thereto (see FIG. 5) with the end flaps extending beyond the rails. Preferably the rail supporting means (not shown) includes means for so adjusting the rails toaccommodate cases of diderent sizes. Overlying the rails adjacent the entry end of the machine, the right hand end as viewed in FlGS. l and 2, is a case magazine indicated generally at 15 which may be of any suitable construction and which per se forms no part of the instant invention. As illustrated the magazine comprises a series of uprights 16 adapted to abut the edges of a stack 17 of the folded cases 12 .and maintain them in stacked condition and in properly aligned position on the rails. Certain of the uprights 16 are swingably mounted from supports 18 whereby the positions of the uprights may be adjusted to adapt the magazine for cases of different sizes. The rear wall of the magazine is defined by a gate mechanism indicated generally at 2*? which is adapted for adjustment to permit only the lower folded case 12 of the stack to be moved rearwardly by a feed n cans, hereafter to be described.

Rearwardly of magazine 15 is a case opening or erecting station indicated generally at 21 and a case loading station indicated generally at 22. Collapsed cases are removed from the stack and moved through the opening and loading stations by the feed mechanism illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The feed mechanism comprises a walking beam device including a longitudinally extending bar 23 supported below and equidistant from rails 11 by collars 24 and 25 which in turn are supported by, and preferably formed integral with a brackets 26 and 27. Bar 23 is fixed in the collars as by set screws 54 whereby it is held against longitudinal or rotational movement relatively thereto. Brackets 26 and 27 are mounted in fixed position substantially centrally of transverse bars 28, 29, respectively. The ends of the bars 28 and 29 are rotatably supported in studs 35 secured to longitudinally extending spaced pairs of endless sprocket chains 31 and 32, the sprocket chains of each pair lying adjacent opposite sides of the machine. Sprocket chains 31 are carried by sprocket wheels 33 and 34 which in turn are rotatably mounted on stub shafts 35 and 36 atlixed to and projecting inwardly from the machine frame. Similarly sprocket chains 32 are carried by sprocket wheels 37 and 38 rotatably mounted on stub shafts 39 and 40. The upper and lower flights of sprocket chains 31 and 32 are supported against sagging for substantially the full lengths thereof in tracks formed by longitudinally extending channels 58. Outwardly of sprocket wheels 33 and 37 the hubs thereof have afiixed thereto sprocket wheels 41 and 42, respectively (FIGS. 2 and 3). An endless sprocket chain 43 is trained around sprocket wheels 41 and 42, a sprocket wheel 44 and an idler sprocket 45. Sprocket wheel 44 is suitably keyed to a shaft 46 mounted for rotation in bearings 47 at opposite sides of the machine frame. Shaft 46 is driven by a motor 59 through a change speed device 48 suitably belt connected to the output pulley of the motor, and a sprocket chain 49 meshing with sprockets (not shown) keyed to the output shaft of the speed change device 48 and to shaft 46.

Bar 23 carries a first pusher unit 56 adjustably secured thereto against rotating or sliding movement thereon as by set screw 55. Pusher unit 50 includes a plate 51 pivotally mounted as at 52 and adapted to be normally maintained in an adjusted substantially horizontal position by an adjustment screw 53 and a compression spring 62. The plate has a rearwardly opening notch defining an abutment face s adapted, when bar 23 is in the elevated position of FIGS. 1 and 2, to contact the rear edge of the lower case only of the stack 17 to remove it from the stack upon movement of bar 23, and hence unit 50, to the left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. Rearwardly of unit 50 is a second pusher unit 6% adjustably fixed to bar 23 against rotatable or sliding movement thereon as by set screws 57. Unit 69 includes a pusher plate 61 having a lower edge, when the bar is in the operative position of FIGS. 1 and 2, at substantially the upper level of rails 11 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The second pusher unit also includes means to inturn a case end flap as will hereinafter be described.

Rearwardly of the pusher unit 6%) is a third pusher unit l 63 including a pusher plate 64 and otherwise in all respects, except as to the flap inturning means, identical with pusher unit 60 and similarly mounted on bar 23.

It will be understood that as the pairs of sprocket chains 31 and 32 are driven in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2 through the medium of motor 59 and the other elements of the drive mechanism, bar 23 is moved longitudinally of the machine at the level illustrated in the drawings carrying the several pusher units with it until rods 28 and 29 reach the sprockets 33 and 37, respectively. At this time the rods 28 and 29 travel around the sprockets with the chains, bar 23 being thereby lowered to remove the pusher units from their operative positions and, upon continued travel of the sprocket chains, bar 23 is carried through a return stroke at its lower level. As rods travel around sprockets 34 and 38 the bar is again elevated and the pusher units returned to their operative levels.

The starting position of the feed mechanism in respect to a cycle of operation of the machine is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The abutment face 56 of first pusher unit 59 is substantially in contact with the forward edge of the lowest case 12 of the stack 1'7, pusher plate 61 of the second pusher unit is spaced somewhat toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 2 from the trailing edge of a case 12 in the position to which it was delivered by the first pusher unit during the last previous cycle of operation, and plate 64 of the third pusher unit is substantially in contact with an opened case in the loading station to which the case was delivered by the second pusher unit during said past previous cycle. Thus, in each cycle of operation of the feed mechanism the cases are moved through one of multiple stages of operation during the active portion of the cycle and remain at rest during the inactive or return portion. It will be recognized that the adjustable mounting of the pusher units on bar 23 permit the proper positioning of the units to accommodate cases of different dimensions, within the capacity of the machine.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 6 to 8 inclusive first and second cam means are mounted in positions to manipulate the end flaps, projecting beyond rails 11 at the opposite ends of the case, so that as a collapsed case reaches the case opening station its bottom wall flaps are depressed from the plane of the remaining flaps. The first cam means comprises members 76, one being mounted for free rocking movement on a pivot pin 71 outwardly of each rail 11 in position to be contacted by the end flaps at that end of the case as the case is moved along the rails 11 by the first pusher unit. The construction of the mounting means permits adjustment of the members longitudinally as well as laterally of the machine as will be hereinafter explained. Each member 70 includes a relatively pointed nose portion 72 and a tail portion 73 on opposite sides of pivot 71, the mass of the tail portion substantially exceeding that of the nose portion. As will be noted the lower edges of the nose and tail portions form a straight line. Tail portion 73 is provided with an arcuate slot 74 receiving a pin 75 supported in fixed position as will hereinafter to explained. Due to the overriding mass of the tail portion each mem ber 76 tends to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 6 to 8, to the extent permitted by the contact of pin 75 with the upper end of slot 74, namely, to the position illustrated in FIG. 6 in which the nose portion projects above the rails in the path of the end flaps of an advancing case. As the ease continues to advance the overlying top flap 76, the underlying leading side wall flap '77 and the bottom flap 78 at each end of the case are cammed downwardly by the straight lower edge of members 70 adjacent that end of the case to depress the flaps from the plane of the emainder of the case. Upon further advancing movement as the leading edge of the case passes the pivots 71 the depressed flaps contact the tail portions of members 70 which are thereby rotated on their pivots until pins 75 contact the lower ends of slots 74. In this position the nose portion '72 of each member 70 is below the normal planevof the case and will underlie the trailing side wall flap 79 as the case continues to advance (PEG. 7). The case with the end flaps 76, 77 and 78 maintained in the depressed positions described and with flaps 79 in their original horizontal positions is then advanced into contact with the second cam means.

The second cam means comprises members 86 one being mounted for free rocking movement on a pivot 81 outwardly of each rail 11 in longitudinal alignment with its associated cam member 79. The mountings for members 8b are shown in PEG. 4 and as the same type of mounting is preferably employed for the cam members 79 the following description of the mounting will be applicable to both. Cam members 8%} are fixed to their pivot pins 81, and similarly cam members '74 are fixed to their pivot pins 71. The pivot pins project outwardly from the cam members and are rotatably mounted in bearings 82 in the legs of U-shaped portions of brackets 33. The pins are maintained against axial movement by collars 84 fixed to the pins between the legs of the U-shaped portions. Brackets 33 are mounted for longitudinal adjustment on frame members 85 which in turn are mounted for adjustment transversely of the machine by any suitable means (not shown).

Each cam member 80 includes a nose portion E i and a tail portion i l on opposite sides of its pivot pin 31, the mass of the nose portion exceeding the mass of the tail portion. The tail. portion has an arcuate slot 92 receiving a pin 93. Pin 93 is mounted in fixed position on the inner leg of the U-shaped portion 82 of bracket 83 and as will be understood pins 71 of the first cam members 70 are similarly fixed on the corresponding portions of the brackets supporting such first cam members. Nose portion 9% of each member 86 comes substantially to a point and the upper edges of the noseand tail portions form a straight line. Due to the overriding mass of the nose portion, member 89 tends to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 6 to 8 to the extent permitted by the contact of pin 93 with the lower end of slot 92. In the rest'positions of members 8% the projecting ends of nose portions 90 are below the case end flaps held depressed by members 79.

The continued advance of the case causes the leading edge of the underlying side wall flap 77 at each end of the case to contact the upper edge of the nose portion of one of the members, this occurring as the flaps 76 and 77 pass from the control of member 70. Thus upon continued movement of the case the flaps 77 and the overlying flaps 76 ride up the upper straight edges of members fill and are again elevated to the plane of the case, members 80 rotating on their pivot pins 81 into substantially horizontal positions as the leading edges of flaps 76 and 77 pass the pivot pins 81. When members 80 have been rotated to this position the pointed ends of the nose portions 9i have been elevated above flaps 78 which had been held depressed by members 7%. Upon further movement of the case (FIG. 8) members 8i) take over the function of retaining bottom wall flaps 7% in their depressed positions and members ill are thereafter free to rotate to their original positions of FIG. 6. Side wall end flaps 7) have been unaffected by either of the camming means and retain their original horizontal positions throughout.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 to 8, inclusive, rails 11 support devices for retaining the bottom wall flaps 78 in their depressed positions after they leave the influence of the second cam members and during the remainder of the travel of the case through the machine. Each of these devices comprises a lower wall member 96 extending outwardly and downwardly from the plane of the upper edges of rails ill at the same angle as the depressed flaps 7 8. Each bottom wall memher is provided witha preferably integral flange 97 fixed as by screws .to its associated rail 11. Webs 99 at suitable intervals, and which may be integral with or otherwise secured to the bottom Walls 96 and flanges 97, serve to assist in the support of the devices. An upper wall llllli of each device defines a flap receiving trough with the lower wall 96, and is suitably secured in spaced relationship .to the lower wall adjacent the outer edges of walls through the medium of spacer 161.

Following the operation of the cam means on the end flaps, as described above, and the entry of the depressed bottom wall'fiaps into the troughs defined by device the case is advanced to the case opening station 21. Referring now particularly to F168. 2, 3, 4 and 9 to 12 inclusive a pair of standards 1% project above rails 11, the standards being supported at their lower ends on fixed framing members at opposite sides of the machine as illustrated in FIG. 4. A transversely extending channel plate 1% is mounted for vertical adjustment on the standards, the latter being received in aligned openings in the flanges of the channel and set screws 197 being threaded through the web of the channel and into contact with the posts to maintain the plate at any adjusted height. Mounted on plate 166 are bearings 108 receiving a shaft 165* for rocking movement therein. Fixed to shaft 109 for rocking movement therewith is a pair of arms 11% extending in the direction of advancement of the cases and having hook shaped lower end portions 111 lying inwardly of but adjacent to rails 11. In the rest position of the arms the hooked ends ill thereof are maintained at a level to engage the leading edge of a case by rollers 112 mounted on pins fixed in the arms the rollers resting on rails ll. Also mounted on shaft 109 for rocking movement therewith and projecting in the opposite direction to arms lid is a pair of arms 11?: extending through slots 114 formed in plate we and supporting a counterweight lllE the latter being insufficient to overbalance arms Elli) but enabling the arms to be rocked upwardly with the application of minimum forces. A bracket 12% is adjustably secured to one of the arms 110, the bracket including a downwardly extendingleg 121 adapted, as will hereinafter be explained, to partially rotate an end flap, at that end of the case opposite to the end through which it is to be loaded, during the case opening operation.

The case opening station also includes means for elfecting an initial partial opening or erecting of the case. Such means comprises (see particularly FIGS. 3 and 9) a hydraulically operated ram indicated at 125 located at one side of the machine adjacent the forward end of one of the devices 95 as shown in FIG. 9. .Ram 125 includes a cylinder, pivotally mounted as at 126 to a side frame member of the machine, and a piston having a rod the projecting end of which carries a clevis 127. The clevis supports a roller 128 adapted, in the retracted position of the ram, to rest on the upper wall of the device 95 with which it is associated, and to be maintained in such position by a spring 131 connected at one end to a collar 13?; carried by the cylinder and at the other end to the machine frame. The hydraulic ram is of any conventional type and fluid lines 12% and 13%) connect it with a hydraulic system to be operated at the desired time by suitable control mechanism (not shown) to cause roller 128 to be projected to the left as illustrated in FlG. 3 to ride up between a depressed bottom flap and an overlying flap and force an overlying from an underlying case panel to initiate the case opening operation. This occurs immediately prior to further advancing movement of the case through the opening station from the position shown in FIG. 2. Following the partial separation of the case panels by the roller 123 it is immediately withdrawn to the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

When a case is positioned with the leading edge in contact with the hooked ends of arms 110, as illustrated in PEG. 2, and ram lZS has performed its function of initially separating overlying and underlying panels thereof, further case advancing movement of the feed mechanism causes the case to be fully erected or opened as illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 12 inclusive. That is, as the hooks of arms 11f prevent the leading edge of the case from further advancement the side panels are rotated on their fold lines and the top panel is elevated from the bottom panel, the arms 110 swinging in a clockwise direction as such elevation of the top panel occurs.

Plate 1% is adjusted on standards 13 5 to position shaft 1%? at an elevation somewhat less than that of the height of the fully opened case whereby as the case approaches fully erected condition a trailing upper corner 133 (FIG. 12) contacts arms 11d and elevates the arms to finally release the hook ends from their engagement with the forward upper corner 134 of the case as the case reaches the fully opened state. Release of the hook ends may be promoted by beveling or rounding off the lower corners thereof as shown at 135. During the opening of the case, leg 12?. of bracket 129 contacts the trailing side wall flap '7) and swings the same slightly inwardly (see FIGS. 11 and 12) to cause it to underlie upper end flap 76 sufiiciently to temporarily maintain the case in opened condition.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 5, pusher means 66 carries, as previously mentioned, means to further inwardly swing side wall flap '79 from the position to which it was swung by leg 121. This means comprises a right angled actuating lever 14% keyed to an output shaft 141 of a hydraulic motor 142 of any suitable and conventional type. The motor is driven at times, as determined by the hydraulic control system of the machine (not shown), to rotate shaft 141 and cause actuating lever 149 to swing from the position illustrated in full lines to the position illustrated in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 5 whereby flap 79 is swung from the dotted line position, to which it was moved by leg 121, to the dot-and-dash line position. The motor is then operated to swing the actuating lever 140 in the opposite direction to its original or rest position.

Upon further advancing movement of the feed mechanism the case, now in its opened or erected condition, is moved into the loading zone 22 (see FIG. 1). Loading of the case is effected through the end thereof opposite the end viewed in FIG. 2 or at the right of the machine as viewed in FIG. 3. At the side of the machine opposite the loading side, the near side as viewed in FIG. 1, standards 14-5 project upwardly from side frame members and support a back-up plate 146 for adjustment transversely of the machine by suitable means only diagrammatically illustrated and per se forming no part of the instant invention. The back-up plate has an upper edge at somewhat lower elevation than the top of the opened case wh reby upper horizontally extending end flap 76 may pass above the back-up plate without contact therewith. The back-up plate is positioned transversely of the machine to lie adjacent the end of the case whereby as the case is advanced into the loading station the plate serves as a plow to swing side wall flap 77 into the plane of the case end and thereafter serves to support flaps 77 and 79 against outwardly swinging movement as the load is inserted into the ease and contacts said fiaps. The side and top flaps at the other or loading end of the case are maintained in open position in any suitable way for the loading operation, the loading mechanism and such cooperating parts thereof not being shown and forming no part of the instant invention.

Referring again to FIG. 5 pusher unit 63 which serves to move the case out from the loading station carries an actuating lever 15% similar in construction and operation to the actuating lever 1469 but mounted with its hydraulic motor to rotate in a direction to swing the trailing side wall end flap 79 at the loading end of the case into the plane of the case end after the loading operation has been completed. As will be recognized the leading side wall end flap 77 at the loading end may be inwardly swung 53 to its final position at right angles to the leading side wall by any suitable means such as a plow (not herein shown).

The operation of the case opener of the instant invention is believed to be clear from the foregoing description but to summarize, upon a complete forward stroke of the advancing means, starting from the position illustrated in FIG. 2, a lowermost collapsed case 12 of the stack 17 is advanced from the stack to a position where its leading edge is in contact or substantially in contact with the hooked ends of arms 116. During this movement the first and second cam means operate to separate the lower end flaps 7 8 at both ends of the case from the remaining flaps and such depressed flaps 78 are inserted into the troughs defined by devices 95. During the same stroke a collapsed case which in the previous stroke had been delivered to the opening station is automatically opened, the operation of the 125 being timed to initially separate the overlying and underlying case panels immediately prior to the start of the case opening operation of arms 110. There after as the advancing movement continues the arms operate to fully open the case and at the same time arm 123i partially inwardly rotates the trailing end flap at that end of the case opposite to that through which the load is to be inserted. During further movement of the case in the same forward stroke of the conveying means actuating lever 14-9 is operated to complete the inward swinging movement of the end flap above mentioned. The corresponding end flap at the leading side of the case is swung inwardly to its final position by contact with back-up plate 146 as the case is moved into the loading station it reaching this position at the end of the stroke. During the same stroke a case which was deposited in the loading station by the last previous stroke is advanced beyond said station to a case sealing unit or to means for conveying it to such case sealing unit, actuating lever 1.59 being operated during such advancing movement to inwardly swing the trailing side wall end flap at the loading side of the case. Upon the completion of the forward or active stroke of the case advancing means, i.e. when sprocket chains 31 and 32 carry rods 28 and 29 around sprockets 35 and 37 sufliciently to lower the pusher units from contact with the cases and during the return stroke of the advancing means while the pusher units are in their lowered positions, the case loader is operated to load the contents into the case at the loading station. As will be recognized while the cases are moved in three stages through the machine there is a case at each stage for each cycle of operation with the result that an erected and loaded case is discharged from the machine upon the completion of each forward stroke of the advancing means.

Having thus described the invention in rather complete detail it will be understood that these details need not be strictly adhered to and that various changes and modifications may be made all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for opening fiat folded cases each thereof comprising top and rear side walls overlying front side and bottom walls with end flaps corresponding to each of said walls extending therefrom in the plane thereof, means for supporting a folded case for advancing movement with said end flaps projecting laterally beyond said supporting means, means for advancing said case on said supporting means, a first freely rockable cam means in the paths of all of said flaps and adapted to depress said overlying top wall flaps and the underlying front side wall and bottom wall flaps from the plane of said case, means carried by said camming means for cooperation with said depressed flaps to rock said camming means out of the paths of said rear side wall flaps upon further advancing movement of said case, a second freely rockable camming means in the paths of all of said advancing flaps for returning said depressed top wall flaps and underlying front side wall flaps to the plane of said case while said first camming means retains said bottom wall flaps in 2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said case,

opening means comprises swingable means in the path of travelof said folded case, said swingable means comprising an arm, a shaft supporting said arm for free swinging movement, and means supported by said shaft in part counterbalancing the weight of said arm.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said case opening means comprises swingable means in the path of travel of said folded case, said swingable means comprising an arm including means to engage the forward edge of the case, said arm being so arranged that upon the completion of the case opening operation said engaging means is disengaged from said case.

4. In a machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said first freely rotatable camming means comprises fiap defleeting members having nose and tail portions, means pivotally mounting said members adjacent the path of travel of said flaps,ysaid pivotal mounting means being so positioned that in the absence of extraneous forces the mass of said tail portion overbalances said nose portion to cause the swinging of said members on said pivotal mounting to a rest position in which said nose por- I tion projects into the path of said flaps and said tail portion projects downwardly therefrom, and stop means to prevent'upward swinging movement of said nose portion upon contact of the leading of the flaps therewith whereby said leading flaps are depressed by said deflecting members below the plane of saidcase.

5. In a machine for opening flat folded cases each thereof comprising top and rear side walls overlying front side and bottom walls with end flaps corresponding to each of said walls extending therefrom in the plane thereof, means supporting a case for, advancing movement, means for advancing said caseon said supporting means, and means for opening said case during said advancing movement, said last named'means comprising an arm having a portion for engagement with a leading edge fold of a case, means for mounting said arm for swinging movement whereby upon continuedadvancing movement of said case said case is opened, and means carried by said arm positioned to contact and inwardly swing one of said rear side wall flaps as said case is opened.

6. In a machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said tail portion includes means for contact with said depressed flaps upon continued forward movement of the case, whereby said deflecting members are swung on said pivotal mounting to rotate said nose portion below the plane of said case.

10 ing members each having nose and tail portions, means pivotally mounting said second deflecting members with the masses of said nose portions overbalancing said tail portions whereby, in the absence of extraneous forces, said second deflecting members rotate on their pivotal mountings to rest positions in which said nose portions project below the path of the flaps depressed by said first deflecting members, and stop means to prevent further rotation of said second deflecting members upon contact with the leading of said case flaps upon continued forward travel of the case whereby the latter are again raised into the plane of said case.

9. In a machine as defined in claim 8 wherein said tail portions of said second deflecting members include means for contact by said raised flaps upon continued forward movement of the case whereby said second deflecting members are swung on their pivotal mountings to rotate their nose portions above flaps retained in their depressed positions by said first members.

10. In a machine as defined in claim 9wherein there is means to retain said last mentioned flaps in their depressed positions as they travel beyond said second deflecting members and during the opening of said case.

11. In a machine as defined in claim 10 wherein there is means adjacent said last mentioned flap retaining means to partially elevate an overlying case wall from an underlying case wall prior to the operation of said case opening means.

12. In a machine for opening flat folded cases each thereof comprising a top and side wall overlying a side and bottom wall with corresponding end closure flaps extending therefrom in the plane thereof, means for supporting afolded case for advancing movement with said flaps extending laterally beyond saidsupporting means, means for advancing. said case on said supporting means, means in the path of said advance operable by said case for depressing the bottom wall flaps of said case from the plane thereof, means for engaging the forward edge of said folded case to prevent further forward movement thereof as the remainder of the case continues to be -ad' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ohrn May 4, 1954 2,831,300 Schroeder Apr. 22, 1958 2,947,229 Caresio Aug. 2, 1960 2,968,226 Derderian Ian. 17, 1961 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR OPENING FLAT FOLDED CASES EACH THEREOF COMPRISING TOP AND REAR SIDE WALLS OVERLYING FRONT SIDE AND BOTTOM WALLS WITH END FLAPS CORRESPONDING TO EACH OF SAID WALLS EXTENDING THEREFROM IN THE PLANE THEREOF, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A FOLDED CASE FOR ADVANCING MOVEMENT WITH SAID END FLAPS PROJECTING LATERALLY BEYOND SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID CASE ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, A FIRST FREELY ROCKABLE CAM MEANS IN THE PATHS OF ALL OF SAID FLAPS AND ADAPTED TO DEPRESS SAID OVERLYING TOP WALL FLAPS AND THE UNDERLYING FRONT SIDE WALL AND BOTTOM WALL FLAPS FROM THE PLANE OF SAID CASE, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CAMMING MEANS FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID DEPRESSED FLAPS TO ROCK SAID CAMMING MEANS OUT OF THE PATHS OF SAID REAR SIDE WALL FLAPS UPON FURTHER ADVANCING MOVEMENT OF SAID CASE, A SECOND FREELY ROCKABLE CAMMING MEANS IN THE PATHS OF ALL OF SAID ADVANCING FLAPS FOR RETURNING SAID DEPRESSED TOP WALL FLAPS AND UNDERLYING FRONT SIDE WALL FLAPS TO THE PLANE OF SAID CASE WHILE SAID FIRST CAMMING MEANS RETAINS SAID BOTTOM WALL FLAPS IN THEIR DEPRESSED POSITIONS, AND MEANS FOR OPENING SAID CASE WHILE SAID BOTTOM WALL FLAPS ARE DEPRESSED. 